FEMA readies for Y2K

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Emergency Management Agency has confirmed that FEMA and at least 26 other federal agencies will be on alert status at the end of the year to deal with Y2K computer bug disruptions. Many federal employees have been denied time off or vacations during the alert period.

A concerned FEMA employee provided a copy of an internal memorandum to WorldNetDaily in response to a recent article about FBI plans for Y2K computer emergencies. A FEMA official verified that the memorandum is genuine.

Employees at 26 other federal agencies have received similar orders in recent months. The FEMA memorandum is signed by James L. Witt, FEMA director appointed by President Bill Clinton.

“In preparation for the change of the millennium, we are doing everything possible to ensure that the federal response community is ready to respond to any potential Year 2000 related event,” said Witt in the Feb. 23 memorandum to all FEMA employees. “To aid in personnel planning we are providing advance information relative to end-of-the-year operations.”

FEMA national headquarters and the 10 regional operations centers will be on alert beginning Dec. 29 and continuing until January 4, according to the memorandum. That has been updated to include Dec. 28, according to Jerry Connolly, FEMA Response and Recovery Directorate, assistant to the director.

Connolly confirmed that the memorandum is genuine, and he provided extensive details about FEMA plans regarding Y2K related disruptions. Previously only FEMA public relations officials would respond to WorldNetDaily inquiries. Connolly is the first highly placed management official to speak on-the-record. He said he wants to be as open with the media as possible.

FEMA’s Emergency Support Team in Washington, and the 10 regional operations centers will be on full alert during the critical period of Dec. 28 through Jan. 4. All employees are expected to be on duty, and all vacations and time off will be cancelled. The 26 other federal agencies which work with FEMA have instituted similar restrictions, according to Connolly.

FEMA offices will be open for 12 hours each day on Dec. 28-30, and Jan. 2-4. On Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 the FEMA offices around the nation will be open 24 hours a day. Employees will be expected to work 12-hour shifts throughout that time period.

If an emergency takes place, FEMA is prepared to mobilize their 2,500 employees and over 4,000 reservists on a moment’s notice to handle up to 50 simultaneous Y2K problems throughout the country, according to Connolly.

Prior to Dec. 28, all employees will be on call 24 hours a day, according to the Witt memorandum.

“In the event of an incident during that period, we will use our standard activation procedures,” stated Witt. Employees will remain on that on-call status from Jan. 5 to the end of January, he added.

FEMA employees are divided into three disaster response teams designated as red, white, and blue. If an emergency requires activation of one of the red, white, or blue response teams, Witt assured them in the memo that they would be relieved after 21 days of operations.

“Since Y2K may be unpredictable, I encourage all FEMA employees to take appropriate steps to use any ‘use or lose’ leave before the end of the year. First line supervisors should review employee time and attendance records mindful of the potential end-of-the-year staffing requirements and encourage and support the use of ‘use or lose’ leave prior to the last month of the year,” Witt advised.

FEMA employees who are not assigned to a red, white, or blue emergency team were asked to be prepared to pitch in and help. Witt told them to be prepared to be called upon at any time for short-term emergency assignments.

“There are many Y2K critical dates and events that may require your support throughout this year and next year. I urge all FEMA employees to stay abreast of Y2K developments,” Witt concluded.

The federal agencies which work directly with FEMA on Y2K issues include, but are not limited to:

• President’s Council on the Year 2000 Conversion
• Critical Infrastructures Assurance Office
• Department of Agriculture and associated agencies
• General Services Administration
• Department of Energy and associated agencies
• National Communications System
• Department of Transportation and associated agencies
• Federal Aviation Administration
• Federal Highway Administration
• Federal Railroad Administration
• United States Coast Guard
• Maritime Administration
• Federal Transit Administration
• Department of Health and Human Services and associated agencies
• Health Care Financing Administration
• National Institutes of Health
• Federal Reserve
• Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council
• Securities and Exchange Commission
• Environmental Protection Agency and associated agencies
• Department of Defense and associated agencies
• Army Corps of Engineers
• National Guard Bureau
• American Red Cross
• Nuclear Regulatory Commission
• Department of Commerce and associated agencies
• Department of Justice and associated agencies
• FBI
• CIA
• Army
• Navy
• Marines
• Air Force